Catch the Aegean: 12-Day Greek Island Hopping Tour

Itinerary in brief:

Day 1: Athens
Day 2: Athens
Day 3: Athens – Mykonos
Day 4: Mykonos – Delos
Day 5: Mykonos
Day 6: Mykonos – Paros
Day 7: Paros
Day 8: Paros – Santorini
Day 9: Santorini
Day 10: Santorini – Heraklion, Crete
Day 11: Heraklion, Crete
Day 12: Heraklion – Athens

Catch the Aegean Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Athens

Welcome to Athens. On arrival at Athens International Airport, we will meet you and transfer you by taxi to your hotel.

Once you have settled in, step outside and begin discovering the city at your own pace. Wander through the narrow streets of Plaka, pause beneath old houses and balconies, and let your first evening introduce you to the atmosphere of Athens.

This is only the beginning. In the days ahead, the city will give way to the blue horizons and islands of the Aegean. Overnight in Athens. 

Day 2: Athens

This morning, set out on your Athens sightseeing tour and visit the Acropolis and nearby ancient sites. Standing above the modern city, the monuments offer a powerful introduction to the history that will accompany you throughout the journey.

Afterward, the afternoon is yours. You may wish to continue exploring the ancient world at the National Archaeological Museum or discover the distinctive art and culture of the islands at the Museum of Cycladic Art.

Later, enjoy Athens in your own way before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Day 3: Athens – Mykonos

After breakfast, we will transfer you by taxi to Piraeus, where your Greek island-hopping journey truly begins.

Board the ferry to Mykonos and watch Athens gradually disappear behind you as the Aegean opens ahead. The Cyclades have been inhabited since prehistoric times, and Early Cycladic culture flourished across these islands during the 3rd millennium BC.

After approximately five hours, arrive in Mykonos and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to discover the island at your own pace.

Lose yourself for a while among whitewashed houses, tiny chapels and narrow lanes. Later, walk along the waterfront, find a favourite spot for sunset and watch the island change character as evening arrives. Overnight in Mykonos. (B)

Day 4: Mykonos – Delos

This morning, leave lively Mykonos behind for a very different island.

A local excursion boat takes you to uninhabited Delos, one of the most remarkable archaeological landscapes of the Aegean. According to Greek mythology, Leto gave birth here to gods Apollo and Artemis, and the island became one of the great sacred centres of the ancient Greek world. UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos ↗

Walk among the remains and imagine a place that once drew worshippers, merchants and travellers from across the Mediterranean.

Around lunchtime, return to Mykonos. The afternoon is free, so you can slow the pace, wander through town or simply find somewhere by the sea and enjoy the contrast between ancient Delos and modern Mykonos. Overnight in Mykonos. (B)

Day 5: Mykonos

Today belongs entirely to you.

Spend the morning on one of Mykonos’ sandy beaches, browse the boutiques or settle by the waterfront in Little Venice for lunch. Later, walk toward the famous windmills, explore another corner of town or simply enjoy having nowhere you need to be.

As evening approaches, Mykonos takes on another rhythm. If you enjoy nightlife, choose from its many bars and clubs. Alternatively, find a quieter table, order dinner and let the island evening unfold around you. Overnight in Mykonos. (B)

Day 6: Mykonos – Paros

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the port for the high-speed ferry to Paros. The crossing takes approximately 50 minutes, but the mood changes quickly.

On arrival, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to begin discovering an island with a gentler rhythm.

Head to the beach, explore one of the island’s villages or wander through narrow lanes lined with small shops and traditional houses. There is no need to rush. Paros is a place to explore, but also a place to slow down. Overnight in Paros. (B)

Day 7: Paros

A full day at leisure gives you time to experience Paros in your own way.

In Parikia, visit Panagia Ekatontapiliani, one of the island’s most important historic churches, before continuing through the old town toward the medieval castle.

Afterward, perhaps follow the streets until they lead you back toward the sea. Stop for local specialities, enjoy fresh fish by the waterfront or venture farther across the island before returning in the evening. 
Today is less about ticking off sights and more about settling into the pace of Cycladic life. Overnight in Paros. (B)

Day 8: Paros – Santorini

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the port for the approximately three-hour ferry journey to Santorini.

The approach to the island marks another change in the journey. Santorini’s volcanic landscape is unlike anywhere else you have visited so far, with the caldera shaping both its scenery and its history.

On arrival, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Later, if you wish, you can look into a local boat excursion to Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, the volcanic islets within the caldera.

Then enjoy your first evening on Santorini, where sea, cliffs and villages create one of the Aegean’s most distinctive settings. Overnight in Santorini. (B)

Day 9: Santorini

This morning, travel much further back in time on your guided visit to Akrotiri. Αrchaeological site of Akrotiri ↗

The prehistoric settlement flourished during the Bronze Age and was preserved beneath volcanic material following the great eruption of Thera in the 17th century BC. Walking through the excavated streets and buildings offers a fascinating glimpse into life on the island thousands of years ago.

Afterward, the afternoon is free. Explore more of Santorini, find a village or viewpoint that appeals to you, or choose a catamaran sunset cruise on your own.

As evening arrives, the island’s volcanic cliffs and wide views across the Aegean provide a fitting backdrop for your final night here. Overnight in Santorini. (B)

Day 10: Santorini – Heraklion, Crete

Enjoy a leisurely morning on Santorini. There is time for a final walk, some shopping, perhaps a taste of the island’s wine or simply a few more hours by the sea.

In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the port for the approximately three-and-a-half-hour ferry journey to Heraklion.

Crete feels different from the Cyclades from the moment you arrive. Larger, older and with a history very much its own, it introduces the final chapter of your Aegean journey.

After transferring to your hotel, begin exploring Heraklion at your own pace and enjoy your first evening in Crete. Overnight in Heraklion. (B)

Day 11: Heraklion, Crete

This morning, you may choose an optional visit to Knossos Palace.

Walk through the remains of the great Minoan palace traditionally associated with King Minos, admire its architecture and frescoes, and discover the place that later became inseparable from the myths of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur.

The afternoon is free to continue exploring Heraklion and its surroundings. Wander through the city, discover more of its historic character or simply enjoy your final hours on the island.

After Mykonos, Delos, Paros and Santorini, Crete brings another dimension to the journey and a final reminder of just how different the islands of Greece can be from one another. Overnight in Heraklion. (B)

Day 12: Heraklion – Athens

Enjoy your final morning in Crete before we transfer you to Heraklion Airport for the flight back to Athens.

The flight takes approximately 50 minutes. On arrival at Athens International Airport, our services come to an end.

You leave Greece having crossed much more than a series of islands: from Athens and ancient Delos to the villages of Paros, volcanic Santorini and Minoan Crete, each stop has revealed another face of the Aegean. 
End of services. (B)

N.B. B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner